Rubber way out for Cross River economic recovery, says Gov. Ayade

Webp.net-resizeimage-21 — The Executive Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade

PATRICK ABANG Calabar –

The rubber sector has been identified as one of the key sectors that can boost the economic recovery and sustainability in Cross River State.

Governor Ben Ayade stated this on Wednesday, when he declared the National Rubber Producers, Processers, Marketers Associations (NARPPMAN) Conference open in Calabar.

NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the conference with the theme: “The place of Rubber in Cross River State Industrial Development and Nigeria”, was held at Kolanut Event Centre Calabar the State Capital.

Participants during The National Rubber Producers, Processers, Marketers Associations (NARPPMAN) Conference, held on Wednesday in Calabar.

Governor Ayade said the National consciousness towards Agricultural revolution has prompted his administration to support critical stakeholders in the rubber sector.

The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agricultural and Natural Resources Christopher Achong, commended NARPPMAN for its efforts towards tge economic recovery of the state and the country at large.

In her goodwill message, The Commissioner for Commerce Rosemary Archibong, said rubber was key in the then South Eastern states and now Cross River State and Akwa-Ibom State.

The commissioner said the state government was willing to partner with NARPPMAN to plant more rubber trees in the state as a way out for the state economic recovery and sustainability.

“It is never too late to start planting, our future lies in agro-economy, and you know our governor is passionate in climate change”, she said.

On his part, The National President of NARPPMAN, Igbinosun Idowu, said the sole business of the association is to develop the rubber value chain in the 6 geo-political zones in Nigeria.

“We are pursuing vigorously with a focus of establishing and replanting 160,000 hecters of Rubber plantations in ten years which started in 2020, Cross River State share is 25,000 hecters from this total”, he said.

According to him, discussion are ongoing with the government and major stakeholders in the state to turn the fortunes of rubber in Cross River State as the state had been the number two rubber producing state in the country.

There were goodwill messages from the State Chapter Chairman of NARPPMAN, MAN, NEPC, among others.